LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

Comments

Hi Karen,

You're right to be extra careful with any meds you give your dog from this point forward. I recommend you call your vet directly to find if it's still safe to give Claritin to your dog and exactly what the correct dosage would be for his weight. You can't be too careful, so go straight to the real expert in this case. Best wishes for your dog's health. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog has an enlarged heart. he will be 16 in Jan. Before knowing about his heart he was given claritin for allergies. I had some left and not thinking I was doing anything wrong gave it to him but only once a day and not everyday. when calling for a refill she said she was afraid to give it to him because it might raise his blood pressure. boy that scared me. was told I might could find out if a dosage was okay by looking on computer. Can anyone tell me how to look it up? Thanks in advance!

-- Contributed by: karen

Hi Wanda,

I would ask your vet this question directly since he prescribed it. That way you can be sure you're giving the correct dosage. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Our vet prescribed Claritin 12 hour for our male Westie (25 lbs); it has worked very well. My husband accidently bought the 24 hour regular Claritin(NOT D)instead of the 12 hour. Should we break it in half?

-- Contributed by: wanda shivers

Hi Tami,

Thanks for sharing that info. I just want to encourage anyone thinking of using Claratin to run it by their vet before doing so. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 5lb Yorkie and my vet recommended Claratin 10mg 1/2 pill daily.

-- Contributed by: Tami

Hi Joyce,

To ensure your dog's safety, it would be best to discuss using Claratin with your vet. That way, you can be sure you'll be giving your dog the correct dose if your vet thinks Claratin will be useful. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

MY YELLOW LAB IS 80 POUNDS, HOW MUCH CLARITIN SHOULD I GIVE HIM.

-- Contributed by: JOYCE

My dog weighs about 20 lbs and my vet recommended Claritin 10 mg 1/2 a tablet once a day. It seems to work without making her drowsy.

-- Contributed by: Izzy

Hi Dogma,

Thanks for sharing your information. Was the Claritin helpful for relieving the irritation?

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog is a 40 lb mix breed. He started out with a red belly and his scratching was getting worse. I tried several OTC topical treatments, and nothing really worked. My vet recommended 10 mg of generic Claritin (like Walmart brand, regular not Claritin D) twice a day.

-- Contributed by: DogMa

Hi Manish and Kerry,

Thank you both for contributing. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my vet has recommended 20 mg Claritin (Loratadine) once daily for my 80 lb mutt.

-- Contributed by: Kerry

my 9 months chiwawa had the same problem so i bathe him in mild tree tea oil and aloe vera,for 2 days , after that i stopped the tree oil and sprayed with cortisone, now he is ok, all the red itchy skin has been healed,no more scratching.

-- Contributed by: manish

HI, I have a male shi tzu(2 years old). He scratch and chew his body almost everytime. He sneezes alot and gets red patches around the eyes. According to a veterianarian here, he says i need to send my pet for hair plucking from the eye balls. It seems its usual for shi tzu to have hair growth on their eye balls. Please advise as I am really sad and upset. Also please advise if we can give porridge without salt to my pet. He doesnt eat doog food like royal canine, science plan.(Have tried many timeswith other doog brands as well but to no vail) Is it ok to give him home made food to pets like shi tzu with proper ingredients? He just went for an operation for stone removal at his bladder. Please advise as all of us really love him alot and want to give only the best to him.

Your assistance is very much appreciated.

Thank you.

Prasad Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hi Prasad,

Your vet is talking about a set of eyelashes that grow from the inside corner of your dog's eyes. This is common with Shih Tzus, but typically just causes watery eyes. It has nothing to do with the sneezing and itching. It actually sounds like your dog has an allergy, and this is something your vet should be able to test for.

As for what to feed your dog, porridge does not contain the rounded nutrition your dog needs to flourish. My advice is to select the most balanced brand of kibble you can find, and don't offer your dog anything else. Once he gets hungry enough, he will eat what is being offered. Dogs have a way of persuading us to give them what they want, but it won't hurt to let your dog go without eating for a day or two until he learns to accept the kibble. You can make it more enticing by soaking it with broth, but don't offer any other type of food. I once fostered a bitch that would only eat ring bologna. It took me three days to convert her to a normal diet, but it worked and she was much healthier as a result.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: prasad

Claritin is NOT an H2 blocker, that would be a medication like Tagamet, or Zantac. It is simply a newer generation H1 blocker that does not cross the blood brain barrier.

Thanks for the clarification!

-- Contributed by: Kimberly

Hi, I have a ...er spaniel and he seems to be itching at his ears to the point that he is yelping. The inside of his ears are a little swollen and not red tho.He is on a food called Nutro.... can I use a human antihistamine?? Thanks

Hi Steph,

It's really important to find out why your dog's ears are itching. It could be caused by an ear mite infestation, a yeast infection or even a food allergy. Until you find out, giving your dog antihistamines will only mask the symptoms.

Once your vet has a look at those ears, you can discuss whether Bendryl will be useful, and if so, what the right dosage would be for your dog.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Steph

Hi, I have a 5 year oldLhasa that is prone to hotspots and itchy skin but for the past two days, he has been itching and whining almost NONSTOP. He has been on Chicken/Oatmeal dog food as corn was definitely a culprit and possibly wheat. I gave him Benadry this morning and he's been more whiney and anxious than ever. I have a great Vet, it's just that she likes to put him on steroids for hotspots which I like to avoid due to long term side effects. We have had good luck clearing hotspots up quickly by shaving the area and bathing him. At times,we do use the Vet. Antibiotic spray. HELP is there any other possible cause of or solutions for this poor dog? We're both miserable with this.

Hi Kathy,

You might want to give Sulfadene a try. It's an over-the-counter treatment for hot spots that stops the itch and helps heal the sore. I've always found it helpful for my dogs.

Hope this suggestion helps.

-- Contributed by: Kathy

Hi Kristian,

Some owners have had success using Benadryl, but you need to get the correct dosage for your dog from your vet. The facial swelling is a bit unusual, so I really think you out to take your Pom for a visit with your vet to determine the cause. If the face is swelling, there's also a chance there's some swelling in the trachea. Does your dog seem to have any trouble drinking, eating or barking? Just things to watch out for until your vet takes a look.

Best wishes for your dog's speedy recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

yeah well i have a palmeranian and this itch has been going on for the past weekend but now i've notice his skin is irritated and his face is swelling. What can i give him thats otc or anything that i can do to help stop this atopy.

-- Contributed by: kristian
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